International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada said late on July 19 that it has "removed" a notice that it would be again be striking at Canadian West Coast ports beginning July 22. The 72-hour strike notice had been issued earlier that day (see 2307190031). The ILWU did not respond for further comment.

Longshore workers are "prepared" to walk out of work at Canadian West Coast ports at 8 a.m. on July 1, after the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada issued a 72-hour strike notice to the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, ILWU Canada said in a news release June 28. The ILWU Canada Bargaining Committee "has run out options at the bargaining table because the BCMEA and their member employers have refused to negotiate on the main issues, and we feel we are left with no choice but to take the next step in the process," the news release said.

The Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union reached a tentative agreement on a six-year contract, both unions announced June 14. This comes amid repeated slowdowns at several West Coast ports, including at Los Angeles and Long Beach, that the PMA said were directed by the ILWU (see 2306050077).

Correction: Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero told us June 12 that the port “continues to be open, with all six container terminals operating and moving cargo” as of that morning (see 2306120046).

The Port of Los Angeles has been able to function "close to normal" since June 1 despite issues arising from labor negotiations between dockworkers and terminal operators, Port Executive Director Gene Seroka said at a press conference June 13. "The Port of L.A. terminals are open, trucks are moving, and vessels by and large have been on schedule," Seroka said (see 230609004, 2306050077 and 2303270032).

Work slowdowns continued in recent days at West Coast ports amid contract negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, at least according to the PMA -- the ILWU said the ports are "open" and its members "continue to work."

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and her staff "have been working tirelessly" with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to help the two sides come to a labor deal, Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, told CNBC June 8. Seroka said the Labor Department is talking with both sides "to keep this progress moving" after some West Coast ports experienced disruptions during the last week from work stoppages caused by the labor negotiations (see 2306050077 and 2306060077).

Marine terminal operator APS East Coast (Amports) engaged in "a series of schemes and efforts to unlawfully restrict stevedoring services" and charged $1.2 million in "baseless" fees, Ports America Chesapeake (PAC) and Marine Terminals Corporation-East (MTCE), said in a June 2 complaint to the Federal Maritime Commission. PAC and MTCE, which provide stevedoring services in Baltimore, also accused Amports of subjecting them to "prejudicial treatment" compared with other stevedores "without legitimate transportation justifications," interfering with their stevedoring business and contracts and "unreasonably refusing to deal" with them.

Trade groups this week called on the Biden administration to intervene in labor negotiations between dockworkers and West Coast marine terminals, saying a prolonged breakdown in talks could lead to severe port disruptions (see 2306050077).

Major West Coast ports have experienced recent disruptions as dockworkers and marine terminals continue to negotiate over a labor deal (see 2303270032).